Ready to install updates, finally: please advise

Having finally squared away all my image backup issues (thanks to all here who gave me advice) I'm ready to update my system.

What is the best way to go about this? Should I install SP3 first and see how that affects my computer? I'm not inclined, even protected by a backup, to just click and update everything in one fell swoop.

I recommend you download it from Windows XP SP3. It is the complete version. Do not be put off by the name. I've always had better luck with the full version rather than letting the installer from Windows Update determine which parts are needed.

As long as you have an image backup of your system you should be OK. I'd disable A/V but that is your choice. Just keep that link handy in case something does happen.

I never had any issues, so hard to say. If things seem to be working fine, then I would say there should be no major issues. Use your pc for a while, do what you usually do and if everything works as usual, I'd say you can proceed. Don't forget to image, before applying other patches.

I've had all the updates for a few days. The first couple of days I had a couple of programs behave a little strangely, but I could not duplicate this strange behavior afterward. Does that make any sense? Do these things ever resolve just on their own?

I'm holding off doing anything new until I'm absolutely sure everything is OK with all the new updates.